Brew Pubs and Beer Labels - New, targeted pixel ads are here
October 10, 2008
Brew Pubs and Beer Labels - New, targeted pixel ads are here
by: Keith Tomlinson
So much beer, so little time. With thousands of beer labels in the world and dozens of beer festivals in Canada alone, it’s been difficult to keep up with what’s new and exciting in the world of beer — until now. Three beer aficionados from Excalibur Communications have launched TheBeerHomePage.com, a website devoted entirely to beer.
TheBeerHomePage.com is made up of one-million pixels that brew pubs, breweries and beer brewing companies can purchase to promote their labels. Breweries can rent any number of 20 X 20 pixel spaces to advertise their unique brands to the world. Visitors are linked to the beer companies’ websites by clicking on the labels. The unique design offers prime advertising space for nearly 2,500 different labels, all in one convenient location.
Chocolate Is Good for Us? Yes! (Third in a series)
October 9, 2008
Chocolate Is Good for Us? Yes! (Third in a series)
by: Lisa J. Lehr
This is my third in a series of articles on the happy health benefits of some of our favorite indulgences. Please read my related articles on coffee and tea, wine and beer.
When the Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes came home from Mexico in the early 1500s, he brought with him the sacred drink of the Aztecs. Made from the roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao, the drink was flavored with a blend of exotic ingredients, and although Cortes had come to like this concoction, the Spanish eventually added sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon for a sweeter drink more pleasing to European taste. The secret recipe was eventually leaked to Europe, and first appeared in London in the mid-1600s. By 1765 the American colonists were enjoying cocoa made from West Indian beans. Cocoa powder was developed by a Dutch chocolate maker, and his patented process for pressing cocoa butter from the roasted beans made possible the production of both instant cocoa and edible chocolate.
Theobroma means, appropriately, “food of the gods.” Chocolate has low levels of caffeine; its main stimulant is theobromine, with a much milder effect. The darker the chocolate, the higher is the content of theobromine.
Turkey Gravy Secrets Revealed
October 7, 2008
Turkey Gravy Secrets Revealed
by: Chef Phronc
To make the best tasting turkey gravy you need three things; well-seasoned fat, flour, and a good rich broth. For each cup of finished gravy you will need one tablespoon of fat, one tablespoon of flour and 1 cup of broth.
Start by making up some rich turkey broth. You can use the turkey neck, heart, gizzard or other parts usually found packed inside the turkey cavity. Add some minced onion, diced celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt in enough water to cover, simmer until vegetables are tender. Dice the turkey liver, add to the broth and simmer for about 15 minutes.
You can use the turkey bones if you like. The turkey bones yield much more broth, just add more onions and celery to the pan. You will have to carve the turkey ahead of time, which means no whole roasted turkey sitting on the dinner table waiting to be carved by the host or hostess.
Make sure you use the drippings from the roasting pan, as grandpa always said “that’s the goodies”, just after you’ve removed the cooked turkey and roasting rack from the roasting pan. Strain poultry drippings through a sieve into a 4-cup glass measuring cup.
Caffeine in Coffee
October 6, 2008
Caffeine in Coffee
by: James Grierson
Caffeine is only one of several hundred chemicals found in coffee. However it is the most notorious because of the many physiological affects it has on the human body. Caffeine naturally occurs in many other plants apart from the coffee bush, such as tea and cocoa plants.
There is a long established link between coffee and mental stimulation, which gives a cup of coffee a certain appeal. In fact it could be argued that coffee drinking has helped change the course of history. In 1773, it was in a Boston coffee house where citizens planned the Boston Tea Party; and in 1789, it was from Café Foy that Camille Desmoulins led the angry mob that later brought down the Bastille.
Whether caffeine is actually good for us is a long and much argued debate. Caffeine is commonly used by endurance athletes to permit them to train for longer and aid their recovery afterwards. Scientific studies have also linked it to the prevention of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. However, too much caffeine can lead to insomnia, diuresis, gastro-intestinal disturbance, arrhythmia, psychomotor agitation and osteoporosis.
Old Time Banana Cake
October 4, 2008
Old Time Banana Cake
by: Andrew Krause
As a child this was and still is my favorite cake, it is a really moist and tasty cake as well, ok lets get started, I assume that everyone knows that all ingredients should be at room temperature.
½ pound butter
4 eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
½ cup mashed ripe bananas
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
Cream your butter and sugar together then add your bananas and mix until smooth add your eggs one at a time now add your sour cream, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, and flour, mix on low speed for 1 minute and then on 2nd speed for about 2 minutes or until smooth.
Place your cake mix in a well greased and floured 10 inch x 3 inch tube pan and let bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 25 to 35 minutes, test cake by inserting a pick in the center and if it comes out clean then it is done.
Icing on the cake:
4 tablespoons flour
Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.1 of 8 - Florentines
October 3, 2008
Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.1 of 8 - Florentines
by: Paul Curran
Christmas recipe makes: 12
Calories per biscuit: 170
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 8-10 minutes
Not suitable for freezing
Christmas recipe ingredients:
cherries, 25 g (1 oz)
almonds, flaked 40 g (1.5 oz)
butter, unsalted 60 g (2.5 oz)
sugar, caster 50 g (2 oz)
cream, double 30 ml (2 tbsp)
sunflower seeds, 25 g (1 oz)
mixed peel, chopped 20 g (0.75 oz)
sultanas, 20 g (0.75 oz)
flour, plain white 15 g (0.5 oz)
chocolate, dark plain pieces 125 g (4 oz)
Christmas recipe instructions:
1. Take the almonds and crush slightly. Prepare roughly cut pieces of cherries.
2. Prepare a solution of sugar in the butter and bring to the boil. Away from the heat, mix in flour, almonds, cherries, sultanas, mixed peel, sunflower seeds and cream.
3. Grease a sheet of baking paper and place heaped teaspoonful amounts of the mixture from step 2 onto it ensuring there is enough room for expansion during cooking.
Jewish Coffee Cake
October 2, 2008
Jewish Coffee Cake
by: Andrew Krause
Now here is a coffee cake that will make you want no other coffee cake, and once you prepare this coffee cake and get a real working idea about this cake you can become very creative and use some different jams, jellies, fruits and so on.
Always remember that there is a lot that you can do with a recipe providing you don’t exceed the parameters of the original recipe.
All ingredients should be at room temperature.
¼ pound butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces sour cream
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
Cream the butter and sugar together then add eggs one at a time and mix the rest of the ingredients together slowly.
In a separate bowl combine 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup diced walnuts and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon or as much as you like and mix them together.
Eating the Australian Way
September 29, 2008
Eating the Australian Way
by: Chris Raynor
Australians are often divided into the haves, and the have-nots.
But they’re not always talking about money.
These days, it’s often the haves (too much body fat), versus the have-nots (not overweight).
We can’t seem to make up our minds whether to eat at McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, and All-You-Can-Eat fast food restaurants, or whether to grab a protein snack, a freshly-squeezed fruit juice with wheatgrass and go straight to the gym.
Women’s Magazines have the same problem. A sample magazine from this month featured diet and exercise routines from three TV personalities and movie stars. Yet the back section of the magazine featured recipes such as luscious mocha fudge cake.
The incidence of obesity in Australia rose dramatically in the 90s - 80% for women. And over 20% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Our eating habits are often unbalanced.
Yet a trip to the local beach shows a large number of exceedingly fit bodies, often accompanied by personal trainers. Perhaps the rebellion has begun.
Light Calorie Cooking: How To Cook Low Calorie Foods Which Still Taste Fantastic
September 28, 2008
Light Calorie Cooking: How To Cook Low Calorie Foods Which Still Taste Fantastic
by: DivineRecipes.com
Many people these days want to control their diets so they are eating low calorie foods, but low calorie foods that still taste great. The way to get low calorie foods that taste great is through light calorie cooking. There are a few tips to consider when embarking on light calorie cooking adventures where the calories are low but the taste is high.
Margarine As Opposed to Butter
When following recipes when preparing a meal, there are many recipes that now list a choice between using butter as an ingredient or margarine. By using margarine in the recipe instead of butter the cook cuts the caloric content significantly yet still keeps a good taste overall. It is very hard to tell the difference between margarine and butter that is used in cooked foods and since margarine is lower in calories it is a great substitute. So, the next time you are cooking and run across a choice between butter or margarine as an ingredient make the healthy and low calorie choice by using margarine. The taste will remain great and it won’t affect your waistline!
Cheap And Easy Party Food - Throw A Great Party Without Spending A Fortune
September 26, 2008
Cheap And Easy Party Food - Throw A Great Party Without Spending A Fortune
by: Angela Tyler
If you are planning a party, you already know that food can be one of your biggest expenses. However, you can take several steps to cut your party food costs. It is not necessary to purchase expensive appetizers and beverages to throw a great party. A little imagination and effort can make your party a memorable occasion.
Here are some ideas and suggestions to help you save money on food when throwing your next party:
Have a potluck
A potluck is certainly cheaper than hiring a caterer and you will save a lot of time and money by having your guests prepare a dish to share with others. Potluck is fun and you will surely end up with an interesting assortment of foods. To make things simpler, include a suggestion as to what type of dish you would like your guests to bring such as a dessert, vegetable, or salad.
Finger foods are fun
